Conveyer system



'June l, 1943 w. H. ROBINSON UAI, ,2,320,797

CONVEYER SYSTEM original Filed Jan. 2d, ,1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 Williamf-i. Robinson,

v:Jasper` E. Anderson .big

Their* A Att orng.

June 1, 1943. -w. H. RoBlNsoN Erm.

couvmmn SYSTEM original Filed Jan. 2o, 1940 2 .sheeis-shen 2 /y UInventors:

l william H. Robfncm, l L 0 O Cm@ dasper'EAnde-zws'on,

@a 29 3a 92 b .f7 l y J3 Their` Attohney.

formity of their coatings.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE CONVEYER. SYSTEM William H. Robinson,Schenectady, N. Y., ami. Jasper E. Anderson, Saugus, Mass., assignorstoGeneral Electric Company, a corporation of New York Griginal applicationJanuary 20, 1940, Serial No. 314,830. Divided and this'application March25, 19.41, Serial No. 385,070

3 Claims.

rllhis application-is a division of our application Serial No. 314,830,iiledJanuary 20,1940.

Our invention, forming the subject matter of this divisionalapplication, relates to conveyer systems for rod-like articles and moreparticularly to means for transferring flux-coated electrodes from anextrusion machine to a second transfer means by which they are aligned,spaced,

and fed to an abradi-ng machine which removes anA end portion of theircoating.

It is an object of our invention-to provide improved means forlengthwise separating rod-like articles delivered to a conveyer systemin end-toend succession and thereafter changing their lengthwisemovement into sidewise movement.

Further objects of our invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of the conveyer system of our-parent application which isillustrated in the attached drawings, Figs. l and 2 of which are top'andside views thereof; Figs. 3 and 4 of which are end and sidev detailviews of thevmechanism employed for changing the lengthwise movement ofa succession of electrodes into sidewise movement thereof; and Figs.

5, 6 and' 7- of which argside, end sectional (along lines I-B of Fig. 5)and plan views respectively of a transfer mechanism' forming part of theconveyer system.

@ne of the most convenient ways of applying heavy coatings to arcwelding electrodes is through the agency of an extrusion machine. Thecores of the electrodes are supplied to the extrusion machine incontinuous succession with their ends abutting one another and as theypass through the extrusion machine a shell of the coating material isapplied to them. This coating material connects the successive rods andthe rst operation of the conveyer system illustrated in the drawings isto separate the electrodes lengthwise of one another after they leavethe nozzle of the` extrusion machine; Thereafter this conveyer systemchanges the lengthwise movement. of the coated electrodes into avsidewise movement and transfers the electrodes in parallel spacedaligned relationship through a strip- A`ping machine which removes aportion of the ''uX coating from their ends after which this systemconveys the electrodes into an oven plastic and a satisfactory conveyersystem must be capable of handling these freshly coated electrodeswithout destroying Yor marring the uni- The Vconveyer system Thecoatings on theV electrodes before f Cil illustrated in the drawingssuccessfully accomplishes this result.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the coated electrodes are discharged from thenozzle I0 of an extrusion machine in end-to-end succession lengthwise ofthe longitudinal groove II in the endless belt I2 forming part of theVconveyer system. By lengthwise grooving belt I2, the electrodes areretained along the central portion -of its article-carrying surfacewithout usingauxiliary guiding arrangements which might mar or destroythe uniformity Aof the flux coatings which are in a plastic condition asthe electrodes leave nozzle I0 of the extrusion machine. The peripheralspeed of belt IZis greater than the speed at which the electrodesissuefrom nozzle I0 of the extrusion machine, and consequently, this beltoperates to lengthwise separate the electrodes as they are dischargedthereon.

Belt I 2 is spaced from a second endless belt- I3 havingV a travel suchthat a longitudinal` portion of its article-carrying surfaceis-transverse to the discharge end of belt I2 and the electrodes aretransferred from belt I2 to belt I3 through the agency of a thirdendless belt I4 having a travel such that a longitudinal portion of itsarticle-carrying surface is inclined to andy extends across belt I3 inli-ne with belt l2; The arrangement is such that electrodes dischargedfrom belt I2 engage the inclined surface of belt I4, strike a target orabutment I-5 on theside of belt I3 opposite the discharge end of belt I2and, after their lengthwise movement has thus been arrested, fall uponbelt I3 in side-by-side relationship. The spacing of the electrodes onbelt I3 depends, of course, upon the relative speeds of belts I24 andI3. Means maybe provided for adjusting the relative speeds of thesebelts.

As the electrodes travel along belt- I 3,-they engage a pair of inclinedguides I6 which are oscillated transversely of the belt by anoscillating mechanism enclosed within a box IY'I. These guides byengaging theends of the electrodes on belt i3 align the electrodesbefore they are discharged from belt I3 into a mechanism I8 whichtransfers them from belt I3 onto a pair of parallel conveyer chains I9.,J

Each chain I9- is provided with longitudinally spaced projections whichare aligned with the projections of the other chain and the electrodesare placed in parallel relationship' by the'transler mechanism I8 onthese chains between their projections. These chains transport theelectrodes to a stripper'Z which removes a portion `ing-guides I6 abovereferred to. drives througha transmission including belt 31,

pass between belts 59 and 6I).

Except for the parallel chains 22 and the trans-` fer mechanism 2Ioperated thereby, the various parts of the conveyer system illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2 are driven by a motor 24. This motor is connectedthrough a variable speed mechanism 25, such as the Reeves drive, to amain shaft 26. This shaft extends through a speed 'reducer 21 having anoutput shaft and pulley 28 which is connected by a belt 29 to a drivingpulley 39 which is on the same shaft 3| as the driving drum 32 for beltI3 which also passes over idler drums 33, 34 and 35. adjustablysupported in a frame 36 as a belt tightener. Y A

Shaft 26 is also connected through a transmission including abelt 31,gears 38, a shaft 39 and a belt 49 with a shaft 4I which drives one ofthe pulleys 42 over which belt I2 passes. Shaft 4I is connected throughgears 43 with a shaft 44 which is connected to and operates theoscillating mechanism for the vibrating alignand serves gears 38, shaft39, a belt 45 and a flexible shaft 46, a driving pulley 41 for belt I4.The flexible shaft 46 may be replaced by rigid shafts connected by auniversal coupling.

Shaft 26 is also connected to chains I9 through a transmission includingabelt 48 and the input shaft 49 of a differential 50 having outputshafts 5I .and 52 connected through chains 53 and 54 to the drivingshafts 55 and 56 on which .the drive Wheels or sprockets for chains I9are located. ADrive shaft 55 for chains I9 also operates through atransmission including a belt 51 to rotate va-paddle wheel 58 formingpart of the transfer mechanism I8. Drivev shaft 56 for chains I9 alsooperates through suitable transmissions tovpropel the belts 59 and 90forming part of thestripper mechanism 29. Belt 60 is propelled bydriving one of its pulleys 6I through a transmission including sprocketsand a chain 62 and belt 59 is propelled by driving one of Vits pulleys63 through a gear transmission 6. The belts 59 and 69 travel at slightlydifferent speeds so that as the electrodes are discharged from theparallel chains I9 onto the belt 60, they are rotated about theirlongitudinal axes as they It will be noted that the directions of travelof the chains where they cross the belt 60 are such that transfer ofelectrodes from between projections on chains I9 to the belt 60 occursWithout any interference from these projections.

In the stripper 20 a cylindrical wire brush 64 engages and removes fromthe ends of the electrodes a portion of their coatings as they passbetween belts 59 and 60. 'Ihis brush is driven by a motor 65 connectedthereto through a transmission including belt 66. The axis of rotationof' brush 64 is parallel to the paths of travel of the electrodesbetweenthe belts 59 and 69 and may be placed at an angle to thedirection in which the electrodes are moving so as to removeA anydesired. length of coating on .the ends 4.of-.the electrodes lwithouthaving to set the brush. so that its vcircumference extends below Drum34 is Shaft 26 also the thickness of the coatings on the electrodes.This latter adjustment may be used, however, in which case thelongitudinal axis of the brush is set parallel to the direction oftravel of the electrodes.

In the arrangement illustrated, the ends of the electrodes which areclamped in electrode holders for support and supply of welding currentthereto are cleaned by brush 64. It is, of course, apparent that thearcing end of the electrode may also be cleaned by a brush suitablymounted although in the particular conveyer system illustrated, theimpact of the electrodes on the target or abutment I5 is sufficient toremove coating material from the end of the electrode that makes arcingengagement with the work in performing an arc welding operation.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged views of that portion of the conveyer systemwhich lengthwise separates the electrodes and changes their lengthwisemovementlinto sidewise movement. It is this part of the conveyer systemthat forms the subject matter claimed in this application. As shown inthese views, belt I 2 passes about pulleys 42, 61 and 68. As previouslypointed out, pulley 42 is the driving pulley. These pulleys aresupported in a framework 69 which is pivoted about the driving shaft 4Ifor the pulley 42. The inclination of the article-carrying surface ofbelt l2 relative to nozzle I0 of the extruding machine is controlled bya support provided with set screws 19 which engage the free end of theswinging frame 69. The pulley 68 is supported between two arms 1Ipivoted intermediate their ends to a portion of the frame 69 and setscrews 12 located in the frame engage these arms on the sides oppositethe pivot from the pulley 68 so as to apply the desired tension to beltI2. As previously noted, this belt is provided with a lengthwise groovefor retaining the electrodes thereon. It is preferably made of some softmaterial such as sponge rubber and is of suitable thickness to` providea groove which will effectively retain the electrodes deposited therein.

As also shown in Figs. 3 and 4, transfer belt I4 passes over its drivingpulley 41 and about idler pulleys 13 and 14. These pulleys are mountedon shafts supported by a framework 1-5 which is pivotally supported on ashaft 16 whose ends are mounted in bearings 11 which are located forvertical adjustment on legs 18 and 19 of the main frame of the conveyerVsystem. Frame 15 is held in adjusted position by bolts 88 which passthrough slotted brackets -8I mounted on the horizontal members 82 and 83of the main frame of the conveyer system. By

reason of the method of supporting frame15 vin the main frame of theconveyer system, it is apparent that the position and angularity of thatportion of belt I4 which travels across belt I3 may be suitably adjustedto receive electrodes discharged from belt I2 and direct them againstabutment or target I5 from which they drop onto belt I3 after theirlengthwise motion has been arrested.

The transfer mechanism I 8 previously referred to in describing Figs. 1and 2 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and '1. This mechanism andthe parts associated therewith form the subject matter claimed in ourabove-referred to parent application. Y

At the discharge end of belt I3, the electrodes fall upon inclinedguides 84 and are transferred to the discharge end of these guides bythe flexible rubber aps of paddle wheel 58 which is driven. by sprocketsand chainl` fromzthe shaft 5 5. Acylinder 85 rhaving in, its :peripheryparallelfl slots which pass in. succession pasttheY discharge ends o fguides 84 transfers the-electrodes from .these guides to the parallelchains I9 located oneach sidev of it. Cam surfaces 86Y associated withtheperiphery ofthe cylinder inthe vicinity 'of the discharge end ofguides 85r elects, all but one. electrode from each of thezslotsYtherein.`

Chains; I9 are directed inpaths of travel .past-z the ends of `the.cylinder-85 from below to. rabove the slots therein. so that. theprojections on; these chains pick up` one at .atime the electrodessup..- plied. by the slotted cylinder. The, paths` of Vtravel of thesechains are determined'by the` ad'.- `justment of pulleys 8T mounted. inthe ends, of

one. of the arms of cranks iwhose other arm is supportedbetween setscrews. Cranks 8&*are pivotally supported on shafts lill and by adjust--ing the set screws 89, these cranks may be moved to position thepulleys 8T, and consequently, the chains I9 which pass over thesepulleys. A further adjustment is provided by mounting the support forthe cranks 88 on a plate 9| which is adjustable lengthwise of the frameof the con- The slotted cylinder 85 is propelled through gearingconnecting its shaft 93 with shaft 55 which is driven by chains 53 fromthe diierential 50. The last gear 94 in this gear train is adjustablyconnected through a spider 95 to the shaft 93. As indicated in thedrawings, adjustments are provided so that the spider 95 may berotatably adjusted relative to the gear 94 with which it is connected.By reason of this adjustment, the slots in the cylinder 85 may be madeto match with the spaces between the projections on the chains I9. Thegear transmission between drive shaft 55 and shaft 93 of the cylinder 85is such that the peripheral speed of the cylinder is the same as thespeed of travel of chains I9 as they pass from below to above the slotsin the cylinder. Chains I9 are synchronized with one another by theirdrive wheels or sprockets mounted in shafts 55 and 56 so that theirprojections are aligned with one another to hold the electrodessupported on the chains in parallel relationship.

It is thus apparent that the construction and organization of thetransfer mechanism shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 is such as to receiveelectrodes that have been aligned on belt I3 and feed them in parallelspaced relationship between the projections on chains I9 without in anyway marring or indenting the plastic coatings thereon.

As previously noted, the same kind of a transfer mechanism 2I isemployed for transferring the electrodes from stripper 2i) to theparallel chains 22 by means of which the electrodes are traversedthrough the oven in which they are baked.

Chains I9 by means of which the electrodes are fed in aligned, parallel,spaced positions to the stripper 20 are propelled, as pointed out above,by sprockets or driving wheels mounted on drive shafts 55 and 56 whichare connected through dierential 59 to the main shaft 25 of the conveyersystem. By using this differential drive, chains I9 are driven at pointsdividing their length in substantially equal portions, and consequently,the amount of power applied to the chains at their driving points issuitably divided so that the strength of the chains or the number ofdriving wheels employed may be kept at a veyer system through the agencyof set screws minimum. Eurthermore, by employing;the-differentialdrive', diiiiculties 'from .back-lash in the chains:are;,minimized. The direction of travel of; chains i9 where:y theycross; belt-60 of the stripperisdetermined' by'idlerpull'eys 96 and 91.Idlerrpulleys98 adiustably mounted on the main frame of' therconveyersystem are also provided for. tensioning; Vthe-chains. .I

In place. of belts I2; ISQa-nd.,Izifand;chainsV I9 and. 22",V anysuitable endlessgiiexible, conveyerfoi similar construction may beemployed. We pre- .fer to employ a` chainof the construction-illus.-

trated and described in our United States Letters Patent 2,144,547,grantedlanuary lfl',l 1939, and assigned to thesame assigneeas'thisinvention.

Our invention has. been described in connection with a particularconveyer system particularly suited for conveying flux coated electrodesthrough certain processing, steps employedin .their manufacture. Itis,ofcourse, apparent that other conveyersystems embodyingitscharacteristicfeatures are suited for transporting andiposi'- tioninglother rod-'like articles. Many variations and modifications ofour'invention. will occur to those skilled in the art in view of theabove description of one embodiment thereof, and it is intended in theappended claims to cover all such variations and modications as comewithin the true spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A conveyer system comprising an endless belt, means for dischargingrod-like articles in end-to-end succession lengthwise of said belt, asecond endless belt having a travel such that a longitudinal portion ofits article-carrying surface is transverse to and spaced from thedischarge end of said rst-mentioned belt, a third endless belt having atravel such that a longitudinal portion of its article-carrying surfaceis inclined to and extends across said longitudinal portion of saidsecond-mentioned belt in line With said first-mentioned belt, anabutment on the side of said second-mentioned belt opposite thedischarge end of said first-mentioned belt and in line with the travelof said longitudinal DOIIJOII of said third-mentioned belt across saidsecondmentioned belt and means for propelling said belts, saidfirst-mentioned belt and said thirdmentioned belt being propelled atspeeds such that said articles on said first-mentioned belt aredischarged lengthwise onto said longitudinal portion of saidthird-mentioned belt and are propelled by said third-mentioned belt intoimpactive engagement with said abutment before they fall upon saidlongitudinal portion of said secondmentioned belt in side by siderelationship.

2. A conveyer system comprising an endless belt, means for dischargingrod-like articles in end-to-end succession lengthwise of said belt, asecond endless belt having a travel such that a longitudinal portion ofits article-carrying surface is transverse to and spaced from thedischarge end of said iirst-mentioned belt, a third endless belt havinga travel such that a longitudinal portion of its article-carryingsurface is inclined to and extends across said longitudinal portion ofsaid second-mentioned belt in line with said first-mentioned belt, anabutment on the side of said second-mentioned belt opposite thedischarge end of said first-.mentioned belt and in line with the travelof said longitudinal portion 0f said third-mentioned belt across saidsecond-mentioned belt, means for propelling said belts, saidfirst-mentioned belt and said thirdmentioned belt being propelled atspeeds such that said articles on said first-mentioned belt aredischarged lengthwise onto said longitudinal portion of saidthird-mentioned belt and are propelled by said third-mentioned belt intoimpactive engagement with said abutment before they fall upon saidlongitudinal portion of said secondmentioned belt in side by siderelationship, and means for adjusting the angle of inclination of saidlongitudinal portion of said third-mentioned belt which extends acrosssaid second-mentioned belt and thereby controlling the transfer of saidarticles from said first-mentioned belt to said .second-mentioned belt.

3. A conveyer system comprising an endless belt With a longitudinalgroove in its article- `carrying surface, means for discharging articlesin end-to-end engagement lengthwise of the groove in said belt, a secondendless belt having a travel such that a portion of its article-carryingsurface is transverse to and spaced in substantially the same plane asthe discharge end of said first-mentioned belt, a third endless belthaving a travel such that a portion of its article-carrying surface isinclined to and extendsvacross said 10 mentioned belt, means forpropelling saidrstmentioned belt at a speed greater than the speed atwhich said articles are supplied thereto, means for propelling saidthird-mentioned belt at a speed such that articles discharged from. said15 first-mentioned belt upon engaging said thirdmentioned belt arepropelled into engagement with said abutment, and means for propellingsaid second-mentioned belt at a speed suitable for 'laterally spacingsaid articles as theyiall 20 from said abutment after their lengthwisemovement has been arrested thereby.

WILLIAM H. ROBINSON. JASPER E. ANDERSON.

